Heater for heating a plastic sleeve about a portion of a wire harness

Abstract

A heating device for recovering a heat-recoverable plastics sleeve about a portion of a wire harness comprises a housing having a heating location when the portion of the harness and heat-recoverable sleeve are introduced, and a heating unit that is movable between a rearward position in which it surrounds the heating location. The heating unit comprises a pair of heating jaws (5,5') that open as they move toward the heating location and then close as they arrive at it so that the portion of the harness to be heated is completely enclosed within the heating unit. The jaws open again when they recede from the heating location to allow the harness to be removed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A heating device for recovering a heat-recoverable plastics sleeve about a portion of a wire harness, which comprises a housing having a heating location where a portion of a harness and heat-recoverable sleeve positioned thereon are introduced, a heating unit that is movable between a rearward position in which it is separated from the heating location, and a forward position in which it surrounds the heating location, the heating unit comprising a pair of heating jaws that are caused to open as the heating unit moves toward the heating location and then to close as the heating unit arrives at the heating location, so that a portion of a harness and sleeve are substantially completely enclosed within the heating unit, the jaws being caused to open as the heating unit recedes from the heating location in order to allow a portion of a wire harness and sleeve to be removed. 
     
     
       2. A device as claimed in claim 1 which includes an arrangement for holding a wire harness in the heating location which comprises a pair of pressure plates located on each side of the heating unit, one pressure plate of each pair being biased toward the other in order to grip a harness between them. 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each arrangement includes a latch adapted to prevent removal of a wire hardness from the heating location when the heating unit surrounds a portion of a harness, but is adapted to move to a position that allows removal of a wire harness when the heating unit recedes from the heating location. 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each arrangement includes an ejection member adapted to force a wire harness out of the heating location when the heating unit recedes from the heating location. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each jaw of the heating unit has a bearing on each side thereof that cooperates with a guide surface on the housing to cause the jaws to open and close as the heating unit is moved between said rearward and forward positions. 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claims 1, wherein each jaw of the heating unit includes a heating assembly comprising an arcuate array of heating lamps that defines one half of a heating chamber when the jaws are brought together, the heating lamps being surrounded by a quantity of thermal insulation.